Madison - Off-duty or retired law enforcement officers with the proper permit could carry concealed weapons into schools and some private properties, under a draft bill being circulated by a Milwaukee-area legislator.

A similar proposal by GOP Rep. Joel Kleefisch of Oconomowoc failed last session, but this new bill is likely to see more attention after the recent school and college shootings in Newtown, Conn., and other states.

"It's not in light of the (Newtown) shooting because I had this bill last session, but I think there'll be a lot more support for it," Kleefisch said.

A Democrat in the Assembly, former police officer Chris Danou of Trempealeau, will serve with Kleefisch as a lead sponsor for the bill. In the past, it's had the backing of key law enforcement groups in the state but not the active support of school associations.

Currently, retired law enforcement officers in Wisconsin can carry concealed weapons if they are properly authorized by either their former agency or by the state Department of Justice.

But state law prohibits anyone but on-duty officers from carrying concealed weapons onto school grounds. Currently, if off-duty officers and retired officers are visiting a school to see a child or attend a sporting event, they can't carry concealed guns. The same goes for private properties where the owners have posted signs prohibiting concealed carry.

In 2011, the Legislature and Gov. Scott Walker passed a law allowing qualifying state residents to apply for and receive concealed carry permits. As part of that measure, lawmakers also prohibited those permit holders from carrying their concealed weapons onto school grounds and posted private properties as well, which has had the effect of prohibiting off-duty officers from doing so.

Some of the private properties where the owners can now post prohibitions against concealed weapons are restaurants, bars and retail stores.

Danou said he's heard from many police officers who would like to change the law so they once again can carry their service pistols concealed in schools while off-duty. He said that's a big reason for his support for the bill.

Last session, Kleefisch's bill also had the support of one Democrat, then-Sen. Jim Holperin of Conover, though it had few other co-sponsors. More important, it had the support of major law enforcement groups in the state, from the Wisconsin Professional Police Association to the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Associations.

The Wisconsin Association of School Boards didn't back the bill. Dan Rossmiller, a lobbyist for the association, said the group has taken a blanket position opposing legislation to allow more guns or other weapons in schools.

"We'd need to look at this individual bill," Rossmiller said.

Rossmiller noted that many schools already have police officers assigned to them and said that "at a minimum" the bill should require off-duty officers to notify school officials and any school resource officer that they would be carrying a concealed weapon onto the school grounds.

Danou, who previously served as a school resource officer as part of his police service, agreed that was a good practice but wasn't sure it needed to be in the bill as a requirement. Danou said that while serving in a school, he appreciated having other off-duty officers around at school events such as football games so they could help in the event of an arrest or problem.

He had no trouble recognizing other officers without being notified, Danou said.

Last session, the Kleefisch bill passed unanimously out of committee in the Assembly but then died without getting a floor vote. Since then, the political landscape has shifted.

The recent shootings, particularly the Newtown massacre in which 20 students and six staff were shot and killed last month, have given new urgency to the issue of ensuring secure schools. But there have been sharp partisan differences over how to accomplish that.

The National Rifle Association drew scorn from Democrats with its proposal to avoid new gun control laws in favor of putting more armed guards in schools, whether through police officers or trained volunteers. Republicans have opposed new gun laws, and many have rallied around the idea of providing more armed security in schools.

Both Kleefisch and Danou said that the proposal wasn't aimed specifically at having full-time armed security guards in schools. The bill, however, could well be drawn up into the increasingly partisan atmosphere surrounding the issue.

So far legislative leaders of both parties and Walker's office aren't giving any strong reactions to the bill, and it may be some time before they do. A spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said he was focused on economic issues and hadn't reviewed the Kleefisch bill.

"Right now, he's focused on passing a mining bill and a constitutional amendment to protect the transportation fund as well as an income-tax cut," spokeswoman Kit Beyer said.

About Jason Stein

Jason Stein covers the state Capitol and is the author with his colleague Patrick Marley of "More than They Bargained For: Scott Walker, Unions and the Fight for Wisconsin." His work has been recognized by journalism groups such as the American Society of News Editors, the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, and the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors.